What is considered a normal ankle-brachial index (ABI) range?

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Multiple Choice

What is considered a normal ankle-brachial index (ABI) range?

Explanation:
Ankle-brachial index is a simple ratio of the highest systolic pressure at the ankle to the highest systolic pressure in the arm, used to assess blood flow to the legs. A normal ABI is about 0.9 to 1.3, meaning the ankle pressure is similar to the arm pressure and there isn’t significant arterial obstruction. Values below 0.9 point to some degree of peripheral arterial disease, with smaller numbers indicating more severe narrowing. Values above about 1.3 or 1.4 suggest noncompressible (calcified) arteries, common in older individuals or those with diabetes, which can mask disease and may require additional testing such as toe-brachial index or imaging. So the 0.9 to 1.3 range best reflects normal, perfused leg arteries.

Ankle-brachial index is a simple ratio of the highest systolic pressure at the ankle to the highest systolic pressure in the arm, used to assess blood flow to the legs. A normal ABI is about 0.9 to 1.3, meaning the ankle pressure is similar to the arm pressure and there isn’t significant arterial obstruction. Values below 0.9 point to some degree of peripheral arterial disease, with smaller numbers indicating more severe narrowing. Values above about 1.3 or 1.4 suggest noncompressible (calcified) arteries, common in older individuals or those with diabetes, which can mask disease and may require additional testing such as toe-brachial index or imaging. So the 0.9 to 1.3 range best reflects normal, perfused leg arteries.

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